The global positioning system (GPS) that helps many hauliers pinpoint the whereabouts of their vehicles could begin to break down at the beginning of next year, says the US Government.
The GPS depends on satellites that orbit the earth and beam signals back to the ground, but the Americans say that the satellite system has not been maintained well enough. Also, new satellites have hit technical hitches: one was due to be launched at the end of 2007 but has still not been sent into space.
A report to the US Congress says that the result might be a failing system, with sat-nav users finding that from next year they experience failures and blackouts.
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